Malians Real Bamako caused the biggest shock so far of the 2014 CAF Champions League with a 2-1 weekend victory at Nigerians Enyimba.
There was no hint of the drama to come in the first round, first leg qualifier when Sibi Gwar gave the former champions the lead on the stroke of half-time.
But Real, dismissed as no-hopers by football fans beyond Mali, levelled midway through the second half thanks to Mohammed Cisse.
Amodou Famake snatched the winner 12 minutes later, leaving two-time African champions Enyimba on the brink of elimination.
The clubs meet again in Bamako this weekend with the Nigerians needing at least two goals to reach the last-16 stage of the premier African club competition.
Enyimba Stadium in the southeastern Nigerian city of Aba is a fortress where the ‘Peoples Elephant’ had lost only twice in 39 home Champions League games before the stunning Real setback.
Making the result more remarkable was the fact that Bamako had not competed in the Champions League until this year with Stade Malien and Djoliba dominating Malian football. But after dumping 1985 African champions FAR Rabat of Morocco on away goals in the preliminary round, Real are on the verge of their greatest achievement.
Should 2003 and 2004 Champions League title-holders Enyimba be eliminated, it would complete a disastrous 2014 campaign by Nigerian clubs. Kano Pillars fell in the preliminary round last month to Democratic Republic of Congo outfit and 1973 African champions Vita.
There was a lesser upset in Guinea with Horoya winning 1-0 against 2013 Fifa Club World Cup silver medalists Raja Casablanca. Moussa Keita netted midway through the opening half in Conakry for a club that are regular CAF participants without ever making a sustained impact.
Raja fired six goals past Sierra Leone visitors Diamond Stars in the preliminaries and the ‘Green Devils’ will expect to overcome the deficit at home.
Liberians Barrack Young Controllers caused the biggest shock of the preliminary phase by ousting two-time champions Asante Kotoko of Ghana. But the giant-killing run could prove short lived as they were held 3-3 at home by Ivorians Sewe San Pedro. Isaac Pupo, Blamo Nimley and Prince Saydee were the Liberian scorers.
Ghanaians Berekum Chelsea were another West African club held at home, drawing 1-1 with Libyans Al Ahly Benghazi.
Nigerian Solomon Jabason put the club from the second Libyan city ahead during the second half and Obed Owusu levelled five minutes into stoppage time.
Tunisians CS Sfaxien, winners of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup last year, look good for a second-round place after winning 2-1 away to Ethiopians Dedebit.
Fakhreddine Ben Youssef put the Sfax side ahead, Dawit Fekadu equalised before half-time and Zied Derbali poached a second-half match-winner.
Four-time African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo are also poised to progress having forced a 1-1 draw at Cameroonians Astres Douala.
Zambian Jonas Sakuwaha converted a mid-second half penalty for the Congolese ‘Ravens’ and Franck Nametchoua restored equality seven minutes later.
AC Leopards, who last year became the first Republic of Congo team to reach the group stage, thumped Angolan visitors Primeiro Agosto 4-1 with two goals coming from Cesaire Gandze.
Algerians Entente Setif were the most convincing weekend winners, firing five unanswered goals past Burkina Faso visitors ASFA Yennenga, including a Hacene Ogbi brace.
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
